Commemorate the Titanic
He has been standing tall in Lichfield for almost a century despite hailing from Stoke-on-Trent - but new research has debunked the theory that the statue of Titanic skipper Commander Edward Smith ended up in Staffordshire after being shunned by the outraged folk of the Potteries.
Volunteers said Lichfield was actually picked as it was a major coaching route between London and Liverpool – and a good place for American tourists to pay their respects to the man who went down with his ship.
Joyce Berry, of the Lichfield Heritage Centre, said: “There’s the story that Stoke commissioned it and the people wouldn’t put it up – but that’s not true from our research.”
The statue of Smith was unveiled in Lichfield’s Beacon Park in 1914 and restored two years ago.
And it will be the focal point of the city’s commemorations of the Titanic disaster.
More than 1,500 flickering tea lights – one for each person who died – will be placed around the base of the statue on the 100th anniversary of the liner’s collision with an iceberg on April 14.
100 Years On Ceremony to Mark the Sinking of the Titanic
Distress Flare Release
Saturday 14 April 8.30pm. Beacon Park, Lichfield
A flare will be released from Beacon Park to re-enact the distress rockets that were sent up from the Titanic on April 15 1912 and will light up the night sky above Lichfield. Members of the British Titanic Society and local dignitaries will attend and the event is open to all. With thanks to kind sponsorship by Jonathan’s Fireworks Ltd and Muddled up Events
Sunday 14 April 2pm-3pm Museum Gardens, Beacon Park Lichfield District Council, Lichfield City Council and Lichfield Cathedral will be joining together to commemorate those who died on board the ill fated Titanic, at a commemorative service at the statue of Commander Edward John Smith in Lichfield’s Beacon Park. The service will feature music from the era, poetry readings, wreath laying by the British Titanic Society and prayers. Eight bells will be sounded at Lichfield Cathedral to signify the hopethat all future watches at sea pass safely..
“It speaks of all the attributes of being human,” said Mary Hutchinson, of the Lichfield Titanic Commemoration Group.
“There was rightful pride from creating a state-of-the-art vessel with the patronage of some of the northern hemisphere’s most wealthy and influential people.
“The captain was on his retirement journey, the whole thing was completely state-of-the-art 100 years ago and then faced such appalling tragedy on so many fronts.
“I’ve always been fascinated by the fact that the statue stands as far from the sea as it can be.
